E-Commerce seems to be the buzzword of the present in the UAE, as companies transfer their operations online and individuals set up new businesses to market products online as a direct effect of Covid-19. In March 2020, the Khaleej Times published that the UAE’s e-commerce sector is expected to be worth almost AED 100 billion in 2022. This was even before the Covid-19 pandemic reached the globe, turning people into online shopping and bringing companies to scale up their e-commerce services and deliveries.
How to Set Up an Online E-Commerce Business in the UAE?
As we continue to adjust to a new way of living during the Corona Virus outbreak, working from home and handling everyday life by opening an app has never been more popular. If we perform online shopping on a regular basis or buy personal goods and services, we are all transitioning to a lifestyle that requires the need for e-commerce sites.
At a stage, when many physical businesses are struggling from closures and are unstable, we are entering a new age in which online industries such as e-commerce, internet services and e-logistics are witnessing rising demand. So, if you’re preparing to start an e-commerce company and offer goods and services digitally, you may be wondering how and what is the best way to get a UAE license that will enable you to sell products and services digitally. Read more on how to get an e-commerce license in the UAE.
Why E-Commerce is a Ripe Market in the UAE?
So, what’s the explanation behind the UAE’s unexpected upturn in eCommerce? Experts cite a number of factors operating together to increase online sales. These factors are:
- The UAE has a high internet audience size, which inevitably lends itself to e-commerce success. Moreover, the UAE already has one of the highest rising pools of smartphone users, not to mention it ranks in the top five countries for the amount of time spending online, with a regular total of 7 hours and 54 minutes.
- The predisposition of the UAE for online activities is no accident—the UAE government strongly promotes it. In UAE Vision 2021, digital trade was described as a top government priority (along with cashless transactions) and there are a number of policies including a pay protection system to back it up.
- The UAE has long been an important geographic region for trading, and its cultural history applies to contemporary e-commerce distribution. Not only does the country have top-notch facilities and low transportation prices, but it is also host to the Port of Jebel Ali, the major transcontinental shipping centre, and Dubai International Airport, the sixth busiest freight airport in the world.
Tips on Successfully Selling Your Products Online in the UAE
With a broad market in place, starting up an e-commerce company in the UAE is comparatively simpler and can boost sales in no time. Here are a few suggestions that need to be taken to effectively start selling online in the UAE:
Select Your Desired Niche
It’s a smart idea to explore what you would like to sell online. It can definitely be something special but consider whether the customer wants to invest their money on it. A huge number of internet retailers are doing something that is still in the market and sees its reasonable share of customers. You may still reinvent/renovate the product, invest in a more effective marketing plan, repack and introduce new functionality to the product.
Take Good Pictures of the Products
It’s worth the time and effort to get that perfect shot because the right picture really helps make a product more appealing to consumers. Some aspects to bear in mind include good lighting and a plain background so you’re not misleading prospective customers.
Be Honest in the Product Description
Along with a good photo, include a catchy but correct title, making the brand and model of the item clear, and a strong description. The information should be precise, detailing every element of the product.
Register Your Domain Name
The domain name is the name under which you would like to register your company. Get a name that’s distinctive but easy to remember. When the name has been selected, a website or URL for the domain name in question must be purchased.
Website Building and Designing for Your E-Commerce Store
Often when you buy a domain, the domain reseller will allow you to purchase ready-made templates to create your website. The benefit of these ready-made templates is that they are pre-designed, and you don’t need the technical knowledge to fill content on these templates. But if you need to configure the site to suit your brand or need a professional-looking website that can scale and expand along with your business, you need to employ a Web Designer or create your website through a professional web development company.
Payment Gateway Integration
One of the main factors of creating a successful e-store is the integration of a secure, effective and convenient payment portal. Find the major payment processors in your region that are stable and have a good transaction performance rate. You may make use of PayPal or PAYFORT, which provide effective payment options for credit cards in the Middle East. If you are beginning a new company and want to test your consumer response, you can first opt for Cash on Arrival and then connect up with the online payment service provider at a later point.
Storage and Logistics/Delivery Setup
Develop prior arrangements for transportation and storage. More specifically, you would like to invest in a reputable and reliable third-party logistics/delivery partner. You may register with existing logistics partners. Using well-known logistics suppliers would improve the reputation of the company with customers.
Launching Your E-Commerce Store
Documenting, categorizing and introducing items to the website is a difficult process and can take a lot of time. However, this shouldn’t bother you if you’re going to create your website with a web development firm. But still, you need to make sure that the customer can quickly browse around the shop and locate the items they’re searching for. We will encourage recruiting a good marketing consultant who will spend their expertise and resources to do some analysis on the dynamics of your company, study customer patterns, study other effective business tactics for a successful launch and future planning to support and expand your business.
How We Can Help You
There are several aspects that need to be weighed when launching an E-Commerce company if you would like more advice, Riz and Mona Consultancy has an expert team to provide advice and help to find the right approach to your business needs. If you need assistance in setting up an e-commerce business, an online store or if you want to market your goods and services online or on a website such as Instagram, please get in touch and our team of experts would be happy to help you with the solutions, guide you along each and every step. Contact us today to book your appointment.
